Come, Brethren of the water, and let us all assemble To treat upon this matter, which makes us quake and tremble; For we shall rue, if it be true, that Fens be undertaken, And where we feed, in Fen and Reed, they’ll feed both Beef and Bacon. They’ll sow both beans and oats, where never man yet thought it, Where men did row in boats, ere undertakers[29] bought it: But Ceres, thou behold us now, let wild oats be their venture, Oh, let the frogs and miry bogs destroy where they do enter. Behold the great design, which they do now determine, Will make our bodies fine, a prey to crows and vermine: For they do mean all fens to drain, and waters overmaster, All will be dry, and we must die, ‘cause Essex calves want pasture. * * * * * Away with boats and rudder, farewell both boots and skatches, No need of one nor th’other, men now make better matches; Stilt-makers all and tanners shall complain of this disaster: For they will make each muddy lake for Essex calves a pasture. The feathered fowls have wings, to fly to other nations; But we have no such things to help our transportations; We must give place (oh grievous case) to horned beasts and cattle, Except that we can all agree to drive them out by battle, etc. And upon the 12th of August (1618) ... at a general session of sewers held at Huntingdon ... there were appointed three commissioners of every county to accompany ... Sir Clement Edwards (one of the Clerks of the Council) ... who gave in this following certificate ... That forasmuch as the inhabitants of Marshland complained much.... And though there were many gentlemen of good worth in those parts who wanted neither zeal nor judgement to do service therein; yet it was conceived, that the work might be best effected by such as had no interest at all in the country.... In pursuance of which order, the said Earl of Arundel made a journey into those parts; where having treaty with Sir William Ayloffe, knight, baronet, Anthony Thomas, Esq., and others, they ... as undertakers in this great adventure, did make these following proposals, viz.: 1. To have all the King’s lands drowned with fresh or salt water, which should be so recovered, at the free rent of 4d. the acre ... 2. To have all the Prince’s lands upon the like condition. 3. To have of all subjects lands, so drowned all the year, two thirds to them the said undertakers ... 4. And of all such lands of subjects which lay drowned half the year, to have the one half ... * * * * * ... the said undertakers did propose to begin their work at the sea, by opening the outfalls of Nene, and Welland; and to make the same navigable to Spalding and Wisbech, which would take away all fear of turning the water upon any neighbour country and draw the same into their true and natural channels....